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Posted by: SixerJ Sep 26 2014, 04:37 PM

Hi I'm looking for some guidance on which steel GT arches I should purchase for my original -6 project

I would especially like to hear from members and the body shop pro's who have fitted the various options

I'm asking the question because I almost pulled the trigger on a set of originals the other day. But as we all know they are serious $$$ and that is if you can find them. Once I've paid shipping and customs they would be $$$$. With so many other parts to purchase I hesitated over the return key.....

Presumably originals would be 1st choice but who's would be next in terms of fit, finish, minimal filler, closest to a factory shape, minimise the work to replicate the factory width wheel lip (what is the correct width?) etc

One of my issues is that 914s are so thin on the ground here that it's not like I can pop around and examine another cars GT arches, let alone have a factory car, RD and AA parked in a row to help me come to a decision

Help!

Posted by: Travis Neff Sep 26 2014, 04:46 PM

Restoration Design has them, but they aren't quite as smooth as the factory flare$

http://www.restoration-design.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=rd&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=P359

Posted by: r_towle Sep 26 2014, 04:50 PM

If you put flare on an original six, it's not original anymore.
Given that, buy the restoration design one and get them to a good metal man and they fit like a glove.
Yes, there are some wrinkles, but even I can hammer and dolly those out in a few minutes.

Rich

Posted by: SixerJ Sep 26 2014, 05:04 PM

I really should post a pic of the car. She's is an original six, but about as far from as original as you can get & currently has hand beaten an rolled aluminium GT wings and arches. The plan is to replace with steel wings and arches as I'm hoping to build her as a historic FIA spec car

Posted by: r_towle Sep 26 2014, 05:36 PM

Restoration design for the flares, and a parts car for new wings/fenders

Posted by: 396 Sep 26 2014, 06:02 PM

OEM -6, why would you ever want non OEM "GT arches" on your -6

Posted by: Socalandy Sep 26 2014, 11:06 PM

3 of 4 originals on Ebay right now

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PORSCHE-914-6-STEEL-GT-FENDER-FLARES-NEW-SET-OF-3-/121062025772?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c2fdbea2c&vxp=mtr

Posted by: Chris Scott Sep 28 2014, 10:40 AM

when I was looking for my flares I called Restoration and Design and they were just reselling the AA flares. So unless things have changed in a year that is what I learned.

Posted by: ripper911 Sep 28 2014, 12:05 PM

Posted by: Mark Henry Sep 28 2014, 12:10 PM

maybe...but I'd rather deal with RD...good people.

Posted by: Jon H. Sep 28 2014, 06:17 PM

And for some reason, they were cheaper? And ditto, good guys to deal with.

Jon H.

Posted by: RobW Sep 28 2014, 06:55 PM

Sorry someone had to do it...

Posted by: ripper911 Sep 28 2014, 07:55 PM

Go with whoever has them cheaper. I don't remember giving RD a big enough discount to be able to sell them cheaper than AA. If they do they aren't making any kind of real profit on them.

It's the same product.

Posted by: Woody Sep 28 2014, 07:59 PM

New OEM still available from the dealer.

Posted by: SixerJ Sep 29 2014, 12:08 AM

Ok you have shamed me in to it.......I will take pictures tonight when I get in from work

Posted by: SixerJ Sep 29 2014, 04:58 AM

As always the world delivers & thanks for the feedback so far

Ignoring the $ & considering she's a genuine 6 / what I'm trying to achieve, I really should just bite the bullet and purchase Porsche arches. Therefore I need find a set.

Just checked with my friendly Porsche UK parts man. All part numbers are showing up in the system as NLA - UK and Germany

Also checked with some of the German based specialists - no one has them

Apart from Stoddards, who else in the US might have them? Or for that matter any hoarders out there who are think of selling?

Posted by: mepstein Sep 29 2014, 05:13 AM

Orig or repro. Both look the same under filler, primer and paint. $ or $$$
It's the install and finish work that really counts.

Posted by: rgalla9146 Sep 29 2014, 06:21 AM

New old stock, with OE parts stickers. No longer available.
If you insist on installing GT flares on a real 6 today, these are the only way to go.
$4000. Pictures available.
Add 4 fenders ?
NOS OE (wings) 2 front, 2 rear.
$12,000 total, pictures available.
Rory

Posted by: SixerJ Sep 29 2014, 03:09 PM

Pictures

Orange car is the -4 panel donor, yellow is the -6 (originally Metallic green)

PO imported it from the US approx 15 years back (a John Lowe sale) & turned her into a poorly built race car, selling many of the -6 goodies along the way to fund the build, including skinning it in aluminium - why !!!

It raced in Porsche Open in the UK as well as on some European ccts (running a 3.2 or bigger lump, can't remember what). The story I heard from good sources was that while at Spa the bonnet flipped due to not putting in the pins properly & due to lack of visibility the PO hit another car in traffic, then the Armco. That was the end of her racing career

Looking at the bonnet, cracked windscreen, wrecked windscreen slam panel and wing damage (front & rear wing scrape on the drivers side / smashed up door and rear wing on the passenger side) I would say that the story is probably true

It was reunited with its 2.0 engine (just got the COA, but have not checked the numbers yet) at some point before I bought it, which was approx 1.5 years ago. Work on her is banned by the misses until I finish the house, she didn't mention anything about buying parts though

Once I get cracking properly I will start a build thread

The dog and my brothers Cobra with Holly issues are simply taking space up where the 911 should be.......

Posted by: Kansas 914 Sep 29 2014, 03:34 PM

Great looking dog - an English Cream?

And the cars are brilliant - cheers!

Posted by: rgalla9146 Sep 29 2014, 05:11 PM

Never heard of replacing fenders with aluminum duplicates... who made them ?
a one-off project ? accurate copy of GT shape ? actually seems pretty cool if thy're still repairable. Why not make them work ?
Good luck with the project.
What is the VIN of the car ?

Posted by: peteyd Sep 29 2014, 07:06 PM

those are not originals. Im pretty sure the writing on those is from our shop.

Posted by: mepstein Sep 29 2014, 07:26 PM

they are the same color of stock AA flares. Ive always seen oem porsche flares in black. I certainly haven't seen everything but i would be very careful before spending money on those.

Posted by: rgalla9146 Sep 30 2014, 08:19 AM

OEM flares were different colors at different times.
Attached are pictures of what I believe are '70s era factory flares.
The grey ones are repros, the same as the three that were mentioned on Ebay.
The green ones are complete with era correct parts labels.
I have also seen and handled later factory black flares with later era correct parts labels.



Attached thumbnail(s)

Posted by: sixnotfour Sep 30 2014, 06:42 PM

and early factory flairs were bare metal...

Posted by: Clemson Sep 30 2014, 06:43 PM

I did se that Stoddards has some NOS flares, a bit pricey but genuine Porsche. http://www.stoddard.com/artifacts.html

Posted by: SixerJ Oct 1 2014, 01:25 PM

Playing catch up

Dog = Golden Retriever. Deeply stupid & loving

VIN = 9140432315. COA lists some optional stuff, most I thought was standard. Central seat cushion was def standard? Do they mean a 3rd seat option? 5.5x14 rims were definitely optional I recall

The alloy body work was custom built by fairly local company in Kings Langley. They tend to keep a low profile so I won't name them here (PM me if your really interested). They have no web site and as far as I can tell business is via word of mouth.

They currently have a Lamborghini Miura in the workshop and I have seen every thing from AC Cobra's, Type C Jags, Ferrari 250 GTO, pre-war stuff. All fairly high end exotica and not the kind of car or parts you would want disappearing overnight

Alloy clothing includes door skins, boot & bonnet (on the original frames), plus the wings. Wings seem to be constructed from 2 panels. I found a fairly poor shot taken shortly after I bought her where you can clearly see the panel weld

On the whole its well executed, but not perfect. Based on the rest of the PO's workmanship I suspect the body work guys were working to a budget rather than allowed to spend sufficient time and money on the project

I'm planning to rebuild her as an FIA Historic spec car, therefore unfortunately keeping all the alloy bits is not an option